Bevel gear, in particular a hypoid bevel gear

ABSTRACT

A bevel gear, in particular a hypoid bevel gear comprising an output shaft that is mounted in a housing. A bevel wheel, which co-operates with a drive pinion, is allocated to the shaft. A single-stage or multi-stage gear is mounted upstream of the hypoid stage, or a drive shaft can be inserted in a modular manner upstream of the stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bevel gear mechanism, in particular hypoidbevel gear mechanism with an output shaft which is mounted in a housingand which is assigned a bevel gear which interacts with a drive bevelgear.

Such bevel gear mechanisms, in particular hypoid bevel gear mechanisms,are commercially available and known and customary in a variety of formsand embodiments. They are used, in particular, for deflecting torque by,for example, 90°, and the intention is that other ranges of deflectionwill also lie within the scope of the present invention.

A disadvantage with conventional gear mechanisms is that they have to beredesigned and reconfigured for different customer-specific requirementsin each case. In particular, customer-specific requirements are, forexample, different drive sleeves, drive shafts, different transmissionratios, different receptacle for output elements or the like.

Owing to the customer-specific variety, conventional hypoid bevel gearmechanisms are manufactured in a very wide variety of variants. This isvery expensive and costly in terms of fabrication technology.

DE 199 57 743 A discloses an angular gear mechanism in which a bevelgear is seated a drive shaft, said bevel gear driving a hollow shaftwhich is arranged perpendicularly thereto.

DE 24 03 504 A discloses a bevel gear mechanism in which two shafts arearranged perpendicularly with respect to one another in a common planeand the shafts each have bevel gears which engage one in the other.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,116 describes a hypoid bevel gear mechanism fromwhich special flange arrangements for suspending the angular gearmechanism are provided.

The publication from the periodical Machine Design of 23.07.1993, Vol.65, No. 15, page 38, ISSN: 00249114 discloses an angular gear mechanism,a shaft which is supported in a flange and on which a bevel gear isseated being provided within the angular gear mechanism. Said bevel gearintermeshes with a bevel gear of an output shaft.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a bevel gearmechanism, in particular a hypoid bevel gear mechanism, which eliminatesthe aforesaid disadvantages and with which it is possible to usestandard components which can be used very cost-effectively and easilyto construct a bevel gear mechanism to which, for example, any desiredoutput elements or drive elements can be connected in a modular fashionon a customer-specific basis. The intention of this is to reducefabrication costs while at the same time increasing the flexibility ofthe bevel gear mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing object is obtained by providing a bevel gear mechanism asdescribed hereinbelow.

In the present invention it is particularly advantageous to connect asingle stage or multistage gear mechanism or a drive shaft which isdimensioned in any desired way to the hypoid stage in a modular fashionby means of a flange. Corresponding customer-specific dimensioning ofthe drive shaft, for example in terms of diameter, length etc.,preferably accommodated in an assembly, can thus be taken into accountwithout the hypoid stage having to be changed. All that is necessary todo this is for the assembly which contains the drive shaft to becustomized so that the rest of the bevel gear mechanism can be insertedand used for different drive shafts or assemblies.

In this context, the assembly containing the drive shaft can be replacedvery quickly and easily with the bevel gear mechanism or by a singlestage or multistage gear mechanism.

This also has the advantage that, for example, in the case of a repair,all that is necessary, for example, is to disconnect the flanges of thesingle stage or multistage gear mechanism from the bevel gear mechanismor the hypoid stage, or to replace it, if, for example, said singlestage or multistage gear mechanism is damaged. In addition, a bevel gearmechanism which has any desired possibilities at the drive end and atthe output end can be implemented in a customer-specific fashion.

In addition, it has proven advantageous that, in particular, theassembly and the rest of the bevel gear mechanism are divided intodifferent lubrication spaces so that, on the one hand, it is possible tooperate with different lubrication means and, on the other hand, theassemblies can be interchanged between the different bevel gearmechanisms, for example a single stage or multistage gear mechanism anda drive shaft, easily and quickly at any time without having to takeinto account the lubrication means and their filling levels.

In addition, it has proven advantageous with the present invention toconstruct the output shaft at at least one end region as an outputflange in order to receive different output elements. In addition, it isadvantageous in the present invention that, for example, a shoulder forreceiving the main bearing is formed directly from part of the outputshaft.

However, it is at the same time also possible to construct a shoulderfrom the bevel gear in order to receive the main bearing of the outputshaft.

A further advantage in the present invention is that the bevel gear andoutput shaft are embodied in two parts, in particular so as to becapable of being connected to one another in a releasable fashion sothat mounting, and if appropriate also repair, are made significantlyeasier. In addition it is also ensured that an extremely short overalllength is implemented by means of this design. The two-part design ofthe bevel gear and output shaft and the supporting of the main bearingon the shoulder of the output shaft allow main bearings which havedimensions of the same magnitude to be used and introduced so thatoverall the stability and the service life are optimized while thevariety of parts is reduced. This is also to lie within the scope of thepresent invention.

In addition, with the present invention it is possible to implement abevel gear mechanism for which transmission ratios of, for example, 1 to10 can be selected with a reduced overall length, while this can also bebrought about by arranging a single stage or multistage gear mechanismin front of the hypoid stage or the bevel gear mechanism. Said singlestage or multistage gear mechanism is likewise very easily exchangeable.Various bevel customer-specific gear mechanisms which can bemanufactured in accordance with the customer's wishes with few changesand modifications can thereby be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge fromthe following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and withreference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated longitudinal section through abevel gear mechanism, in particular hypoid bevel gear mechanism with anattached single stage or multistage gear mechanism;

FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section through a bevel gearmechanism as a further exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated longitudinal section through afurther exemplary embodiment of a further bevel gear mechanism accordingto FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, a bevel gear mechanism R₁ according to theinvention has a housing 1 in which two main bearings 2.1, 2.2 arerespectively mounted spaced apart from one another in end regions and athrough opening 4, in which the output shaft 3 is inserted, is providedwithin the housing 1.

The output shaft 3 is provided with a plurality of different shaftshoulders 5.1 to 5.3. A stop 6 for providing support to the main bearing2.2 on one side is provided between the shaft shoulders 5.2 and 5.3. Themain bearing 2.2 is seated on the shaft shoulder 5.3 of the output shaft3.

A bevel gear 7 is seated in a rotationally fixed fashion on the shaftshoulder 5.1 on the output shaft 3. The bevel gear 7 can be connected ina rotationally fixed fashion to the output shaft 3 by means ofcorresponding shaft hub connections, wedge shaft connections or byshrink fits, and can be driven by means of a corresponding drive bevelgear 8, which is only indicated here, and causes the output shaft 3 torotate about the axis A.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the drive bevel gear 8 is seated ona single stage or multistage gear mechanism 9 and is mounted so as to becapable of rotating about the axis B by means of the gear mechanism 9.

In order to obtain the smallest possible overall length L, it isadvantageous in the present invention that a shoulder 10 is formed fromthe bevel gear 7 and the main bearing 2.1 is seated on said shoulder 10or the main bearing 2.1 is inserted between the shoulder 10 and housing1, ensuring radial and/or axial support of the output shaft 3. A closurelid 11 at one end of the through opening 4 or at one end of the outputshaft 3 serves to secure the main bearing 2.1 axially.

At the other end in the region of the main bearing 2.2, a bearing lid 12which also axially secures the main bearing 2.2 in the region of thehousing 1 is provided, the main bearing 2.2 being secured on the shaftshoulder 5.3 with respect to the stop 6.

In this way, very simple mounting with an extremely short overall lengthL is obtained so that by means of the main bearings 2.1, 2.2 the outputshaft 3 is clamped in axially inside the housing 1 and is mounted in aradially rotatable fashion. Combining the main bearing 2.1 on the bevelgear 7 forms a bevel gear mechanism which withstands high stresses andat the same time permits main bearings 2.1 and 2.2 which are dimensionedso as to be strong and have a reduced overall length L.

In addition, mounting, in particular disassembly, for example in thecase of a repair, is made easier in that only the closure lid 11 andbearing lid 12 have to be removed from the end of the housing 1 in orderto subsequently remove or pull out the main bearings 2.1 and 2.2,respectively, so that the output shaft 3 can then be removed from thethrough opening 4 with or without the bevel gear 7, depending on theconnection.

It is also conceivable, if only the bevel gear 7 is to be replaced, forthe bevel gear 7 to be simply pulled off the shaft shoulder 5.1 byopening the closure lid 11 and pulling off the main bearing 2.1.

In addition, it has proven advantageous in the present exemplaryembodiment that a single stage or multistage gear mechanism 9 can bequickly and releasably connected to the hypoid stage H of the bevel gearmechanism R₁ with a flange 13 with, if appropriate, a drive bevel gear8, in which case it is also possible to consider inserting any desireddrive shaft 14 with, if appropriate, drive bevel gear 8, see FIG. 3,into the same flange 13 instead of the gear mechanism 9.

In this context, the same flange 13 can be used universally toaccommodate the gear mechanism 9 or any desired drive shaft 14 so thatin this way a modular design is provided. It is possible to useuser-specific drive shafts 14 with different dimensions or gearmechanisms 9 with, if appropriate, different transmission ratios. Thisis also intended to lie within the scope of the present invention.

In addition, it is important with the present invention that, as isindicated in particular in the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention according to FIG. 3, the drive shaft 14 of a bevel gearmechanism R₃ can, for example, be inserted as an assembly 15 into theflange 13, the assembly 15 having bearing elements 16.1, 16.2 whichsupport the drive shaft 14 to which a coupling 17 (not indicated here)with a connecting sleeve 18 for any desired drive element is connected.

Outside the bearing elements 16.1, 16.2, sealing elements 19 areprovided which seal off the assembly 15 from the drive bevel gear 8 andfrom the coupling 17 in the outward direction, a first lubrication space20.1 being formed. This lubrication space 20.1 is independent of asecond lubrication space 20.2 which is delimited by means of furthersealing elements 21 between the housing 1 and output shaft 3 or bevelgear 7, in particular between the closure lid 11 and the bevel gear 7and output shaft 3 and bearing lid 12.

In this way, separate lubrication spaces 20.1 and 20.2 are formed sothat different lubrication means can be used in the active region of thebevel gear 7 and drive bevel gear 8 and in the region of the drive shaft14.

In addition, this arrangement also always ensures permanent lubricationof the drive shaft 14 too in a way which is independent of position. Inaddition, the separate lubrication spaces ensure that the drive shaft 3and bevel gear 7 or drive bevel gear 8 can be operated with differentlubrication means, lubrication greases or different lubrication oils.

In this way, it is also possible to use different user-specific orload-specific lubricants in the lubrication spaces 20.1, 20.2.

In addition, it is advantageous that the assembly 15 of the bevel gearmechanisms R₁ to R₃ can readily be replaced very easily and quickly.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention according to FIG.2, a bevel gear mechanism R₂ is shown which corresponds approximately tothat according to FIG. 1. The difference is that the output shaft 3 hasan end shoulder on which the main bearing 2.1 is seated. In an endregion 22, the output shaft 3 is embodied as an output flange 23 formounting any desired drive elements (not illustrated here). The driveshaft 3.1 is also divided here into stages, in order, on the one hand,to push on the main bearing 2.2 and to connect the bevel gear 7 in acentral region to the output shaft 3 in a positively or frictionallylocking fashion.

A further particular feature of the present invention is also that theend region 22 of the output flange 23 is let in within the closure lid11 so that in total an overall length L of the bevel gear mechanism R₂is reduced. In addition, any desired drive elements can be connected byflanges in an easy and a straightforward fashion.

FIG. 3 shows a bevel gear mechanism R₃ in which the bevel gear 7 andoutput shaft 3 are connected to one another in two parts, in particularbolted to one another. In order to ensure radial centering, a shoulder24 is formed between the bevel gear 7 and output shaft 3 and they engageone in the other. The two-part embodiment simplifies mounting,disassembly and fabrication.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A bevel gear mechanism, in particular hypoid bevelgear mechanism, comprising an output shaft (3) which is mounted in ahousing (1) and which is assigned a bevel gear (7) which interacts witha drive bevel gear (8), wherein a single stage or multistage gearmechanism (9) which is dimensioned differently is arranged in front of ahypoid stage (H) so as to be capable of being plugged in a modularfashion, the drive bevel gear (8) being seated on the single stage ormultistage gear mechanism (9) and intermeshing with the bevel gear (7)of the output shaft (3).
 14. A bevel gear mechanism, in particularhypoid bevel gear mechanism, comprising an output shaft (3) which ismounted in a housing (1) and which is assigned a bevel gear (7) whichinteracts with a drive bevel gear (8), wherein the output shaft (3) hasan output flange (23) for adapting output elements.
 15. A bevel gearmechanism, in particular hypoid bevel gear mechanism, comprising anoutput shaft (3) which is mounted in a housing (1) and which is assigneda bevel gear (7) which interacts with a drive bevel gear (8), whereinone region of the drive unit and one region of the hypoid gear mechanismconnected thereto are divided into lubrication spaces (20.1, 20.2) whichare independent of one another.
 16. The bevel gear mechanism as claimedin at least one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the output shaft (3) andbevel gear (7) are arranged in two parts so as to be capable of beingconnected to one another on an axis (A, B).
 17. The bevel gear mechanismas claimed in claim 13, wherein the single stage or multistage gearmechanism (9) or the drive shaft (14) can be plugged in a modularfashion in one and the same central flange (13) of the housing (1) inorder to mesh with the bevel gear (7) of the output shaft (3).
 18. Thebevel gear mechanism as claimed in at least one of claims 14 and 15,wherein the bevel gear (7) is provided with a shoulder (10) on which amain bearing (2.1) of the output shaft (3) is seated and supported withrespect to the housing (1) and, if appropriate, a closure lid (11). 19.The bevel gear mechanism as claimed in at least one of claims 14 and 15,wherein the bevel gear (7) is connected at the end to the output shaft(3), in particular bolted thereto, wherein at least one shoulder (24) isprovided in the bevel gear (7) and output shaft (3) for the purposes ofradial centering.
 20. The bevel gear mechanism as claimed in claim 19,wherein the main bearing (2.1) is supported on the shoulder (10) of thebevel gear (7).
 21. The bevel gear mechanism as claimed in at least oneof claims 14 and 15, wherein the bevel gear (7) is plugged in arotationally fixed fashion onto the output shaft (3), and the mainbearing (2.1) is provided between a shoulder (10) of the bevel gear (7)and the housing (1).
 22. The bevel gear mechanism as claimed in claim15, wherein the output shaft (3) is constructed at one end as an outputflange (23) for adapting any desired output elements, wherein a mainbearing (2.1) is provided between a shoulder (10) of the output flange(23) and the housing (1) for the purpose of radially supporting theoutput shaft (3).
 23. The bevel gear mechanism as claimed in claim 16,wherein one (20.2) of the lubrication spaces is formed between thesealing elements (19) located outside the main bearings (2.1, 2.2), andbetween the output shaft (3) and bevel gear (7) and housing (1).
 24. Thebevel gear mechanism as claimed in claim 23, wherein the otherlubrication space (20.1) is formed between the sealing elements (19) ofthe drive shaft (3) and the drive flange (23).